UoM increases fee by 10% for academic year 2019-20

The University of Mysore (UoM), one of the oldest varsities in the country, has hiked the fee by 10% for the academic year 2019-2020.

The varsity has decided to hike the fee as it is the major source of internal revenue, following a cut in the state government funds. The varsity had submitted a proposal for Rs 160 crore for the academic year 2019-2020, but, the government has sanctioned Rs 122 crore.

With the shortage of Rs 16 crore, compared to the previous year, it has become inevitable to hike the fee to maintain the varsity. Last year, the government had provided Rs 138 crore. The varsity spends Rs 75 lakh on salaries of permanent employees and pension for retired employees.

The varsity needs huge funds for maintenance of hostels, salaries of contract employees, guest faculty and non-teaching staff members. The varsity has been facing shortage of funds for maintenance.

The varsity has 78 post-graduate courses and 18 under-graduate courses. As many as 224 colleges in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts come under its purview. As the number of students intake has increased, the varsity must provide additional facilities to ensure quality education.

‘Administrative matter’

UoM Registrar Lingaraj Gandhi said, “Fee hike is purely an administrative matter and revision of fee is there from the establishment of the varsity. It is common to revise the fee structure every year. As the expenditure cost increases, the fee is increased. The fees is a major source of internal revenue.”

Every varsity has the provisions to increase up to 10%. The Fee Structure Committee decides the fee structure and fixes it for courses. There is different fee structure for different courses and the fee will be fixed as per the demand for the courses. The fee will be reduced for courses which have poor demand. Similarly, the fee will be increased as per the demand, he said.

The varsity has reduced 50% fee for foreign students, who comes for research through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). A majority of the students come from third world countries and many are not in a position to pay the fee. Thus, to encourage them, the fee is reduced, the registrar added.